MOT View: Stan Collymore spot-on with PL u-turn – new solution would still see Leeds promoted
Stan Collymore has said that there’s no other option but for three teams to be relegated from the Premier League this season – however that happens – and as Leeds United fans, we completely agree.
In his column in the Mirror, Collymore said he’d changed his mind as the Coronavirus outbreak continues and that while Brighton chairman Tony Boom’s idea of no relegation was “noble” it wasn’t one he still agreed with.
Collymore had said previously that you could keep the remaining Premier League as is, with no relegation, and just promote Leeds and West Brom.
Collymore said that if the lockdown conditions are extended, the 19/20 season can’t be put back indefinitely.
He still wants to see the remaining fixtures played but says if that’s not possible there needs to be a line drawn and the season ended, with three teams relegated.
He makes the one caveat that all teams should play the same number of games, which would see Aston Villa get a one-match shootout to save their season.
There is hope elsewhere in Europe. The Bundesliga is still pushing ahead with plans to restart the season in May.
And amazingly, Sweden are looking to play matches with fans in June.
However, the situation in the UK is clearly worse and we’re not far off getting to the point where the Premier League and EFL are going to have to set a final date for the re-start of the 19/20 season.
All the other parts of the puzzle are in place, with UEFA looking to finish European competitions in August and the Euro 2021 finals set for the end of next season.
If the season simply can’t be finished, then three teams must be relegated from the Premier League and three promoted from the Championship. They were the rules all teams signed up for.
That would mean Leeds and West Brom coming up, with the EFL having to decide how to decide the final promotion place.
Thankfully, that wouldn’t be something Leeds would have to worry about.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Absolutely huge’ – Exclusive: Pundit reacts to report Radrizzani set for major transfer coup